Shopping For Clothes - An Essential Checklist to Avoid Later Disappointment

Have you often been shopping and excitedly unpacked your purchases only to be disappointed at what has happened to them on the journey home? For example they seem to have got very crumpled and not be of the quality that they appeared in the shop. Using this essential checklist when purchasing items will enable you to avoid such disappointments in the future.

1. The washing instructions. Check these carefully; does the item need a hand wash - if so will you honestly manage this with your lifestyle? If you risk the machine you may change the item completely, for example a pure wool jumper may felt and be un-wearable if washed in a machine. The item may need a cool wash, several items say 30oC, nowadays - will you have a full machine of such items? Ignoring this advice is likely to prove disastrous. Does the item need to be washed on its own- for example the colour may run- will you manage this? It may be that the colour will run each time you wash it? Does the item need special washing liquid, this may well be the case for silk items, as the enzymes in biological detergent may eventually rot the silk fibres. Does the item say 'dry clean' only - if so calculate the cost of this and remember to add this to the price of the item to see if it still seems a good buy.

2. Ironing temperature. If the label implies a very cool iron only then think if this is feasible- how will you remove the creases that inevitably arise during washing? Suggesting a low ironing temperature seems particularly common in fine knitwear and it can be very difficult to remove the creases without damaging overall fabric.

3. Crushability. Some fibres are more prone to creasing than others and these include linen. A linen skirt may look wonderful on the hanger in the shop, but what is it going to look like when you have sat down in it? To test this you could just scrunch a small section of the garment in your hand, let go and you'll see the crease factor. Without testing for crushability before you buy you could end up with a skirt that you can only stand up in.

4. Drape and dress. Have a careful look at the drape of the fabric. If your body shape is one that is flattered by a 'drapey' skirt or dress then check that the fabric will hang nicely and is not too stiff. Likewise if you need a stiffer material, either to suit your body shape or in a summer jacket, check that the fabric's construction/weave suggests it will hold its shape. Fabrics can be treated to make them appear stiff (called 'dress') but when they are washed they appear limp and lifeless.

5. Fibre content. Check the label for this. If your body is suited to items that fit, particularly over your curves, then look for an indication of this on the label. 'With lycra' or 'with elastane' indicate that some stretch has been built in and fabrics incorporating these fibres can be more flattering. If you have chosen knitwear, then do check the content of the yarn. Wool and acrylic can appear similar but they both wash and wear differently and you need to be aware of this at purchase. Acrylic is more likely to be machine washable, whereas wool is more likely to keep its shape and not stretch in wear.

6. Fabric construction. Is the fabric knitted, for example like jersey or is it woven for example like cotton. Knitted fabrics drape more easily and if your body shape is more suited to this sort of fabric do be cautious when choosing woven fabrics. It is important that you know which sort of fabric suits which part of your body.

7. Decoration. Decoration can make a plain item look really special. There's no need to be put off an item because it has sequins, beads, lace, buckles or buttons but do just think about how you will care for the garment so it continues to look good on you.

If you feel that you need help understanding about your body shape and how different fabrics and finishes can flatter you then get in touch with an image consultant. They will be able to advise you on what clothing choices are best for you as an individual. Once you are equipped with your personal advice and this checklist you should not be disappointed when you take your garment purchases out of the bag or look at cleaning them.

Janet Major is a Senior Image Consultant with Colour Me Beautiful Image Consultants. Located on the South Cheshire/North Staffordshire border, Janet offers advice on all aspects of personal and corporate image, such as colour analysis, style consultations and make-up lessons for women; colour and style and image for men and tailor made sessions designed to improve the personal image portrayed by individuals in business. She carries out one-to-one consultations, group workshops and presentations. She contributes to magazines and newspapers on these aspects.

Clothes Shopping For the Man in Your Life - Tips to Help You (and Him)

Many men rely regularly on a woman, be it a partner, mother or sister to shop for them. If this description fits you then what you choose for the man will be influenced by your tastes in clothing. A surprising number of men never buy their own clothes and thus rely entirely on others. By following these tips you can ensure that your man has clothes that suit his unique body.

The initial questions should be: 'what looks good on the man and what will complement his colouring and body shape and also suit his personality, lifestyle and budget?' Once the man has understood these points about himself then he and you, if you are the main shopper for him, will ensure that he has a wardrobe enabling him to be well dressed and comfortable whatever the situation, business or casual.

Colouring

Look at your man's colouring. Is his look pale or very strong and definite? Is his overall appearance golden or would it be best described as cool? Is the overall look very striking or quite muted or do you recognise a combination of some of these characteristics? Just as the balance of colouring in a woman indicates the range of colours to suit her, the same is true of a man. Knowing which palette of colours is best for your man will certainly enable him to be more confident in his colour choice. If you enlist the help of an image consultant she/he will not only ascertain the range of colours but also give guidance on how these colours can be worn. This will help in choosing combinations from the wardrobe and enable colours to be put together confidently both for business and casual functions.

Body shape

As for women, it is important for a man to pay attention to his body shape when buying clothes. Underneath all the clothes, look at the width of the shoulders & how much waist definition there is. Are there curved areas that need disguising? A man's body is more straightforward to dress than that of a woman. However, learning about body shape and understanding which styles, fabrics, textures and patterns work best will make all the difference between just wearing clothes and being well dressed. This is true whether you're thinking about formal clothes or very casual ones. Besides body shape it is important to take account of the scale and proportions of the body. For example, if the man has short legs, learning how to give an illusion of more height can come as a real surprise and give an increase in confidence in his overall look.

Style

You may feel that you know how your man likes to dress and what styles he prefers. But are you sure it is his style and not your style that is being portrayed in him? Is he a man of tradition, always liking to have coordinated clothing? If so, buying him bold colours in dramatic styles is likely to mean the clothes stay in the wardrobe. By finding out the true style of the man, an image consultant can help the man use this information to tie the whole wardrobe together and make choosing complete outfits so much easier. As a woman, buying for the man, this information is very helpful. You might be thinking that you've chosen an item in the right colour, it certainly fits the man and yet he has never chosen to wear it. If this is the case, the reason is most likely to be that it hasn't suited his style.

Dressing for different occasions

This seems to be a big concern voiced by men during a style and image consultation. Although this may sound like an over generalisation most men seem to work on the principle of having two completely different wardrobes, a work one and a non-work one. This can be fine for a while; if there is a major change in circumstances then this system may not cope for example if a man has a career change. Retirement means is another major change and clothes that were smart for work may not be suitable for smart occasions when retired. By auditing the current wardrobe and discussing this in terms of lifestyle and budget , it is possible to pinpoint those clothes that gain their place, those that can be passed on to charity and what should go on a wish list.

By helping your man to understand more about how to make the most of himself and his image, whatever his age, shape or budget, you will know that your help with clothes will be more focused. Why not fix up an image consultation for him right away. Do ask him if he'd like you to be present. If the answer is yes, promise yourself you will only speak when asked for your thoughts. Remember the consultation is to help your man, so he always looks good and feels great.

Janet Major is a Senior image consultant with Colour Me Beautiful Image Consultants. Located on the South Cheshire/North Staffordshire border, Janet offers advice on all aspects of personal and corporate image, such as colour analysis, style consultations and make-up lessons for women; colour and style and image for men and tailor made sessions designed to improve the personal image portrayed by individuals in business. She carries out one-to-one consultations, group workshops and presentations. She contributes to magazines and newspapers on these aspects.